Autonomy Engineer I, Arc Vehicle

Who We Are:

Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next-generation capabilities from space.

Our mission is to make Earth radically more accessible by turning Low-Earth Orbit into an on-demand logistics domain. We see space not as a destination, but as a platform — one that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach.

Our spacecraft are designed to deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, and operating at hypersonic speeds.

Inherently dual-use, our technology is built to meet urgent national security needs while laying the groundwork for future commercial applications. Backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, and working with partners such as the U.S. Space Force and NASA, Inversion is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space-based defense and logistics.

What You'll Do

As an Autonomy Software Engineer at Inversion, you will implement, test, and verify vehicle-level flight sequencing, mission autonomy, and fault-management logic to high technical standards. Working under the guidance of senior engineers, you will execute software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations, debugging logic gates and verifying autonomous behaviors to prepare our vehicles for safe flight operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement and test vehicle-level state machines, flight sequencing, and mission autonomy routines in C++/Rust.
• Support the development and verification of robust fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) software modules.
• Set up, run, and evaluate software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations to validate nominal and off-nominal autonomous behaviors.
• Write comprehensive unit tests, integration tests, and automated test scripts to ensure flight software quality.
• Analyze telemetry and log files from integrated test runs to troubleshoot software anomalies and state-machine transitions.
• Document autonomy logic, interface definitions, and test results to support vehicle system-level qualification.
• Collaborate with systems, GNC, and avionics engineers to define mission phases, command scripts, and automated hazard controls.

Required Qualifications

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Secret/Top Secret security clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or equivalent technical experience.
• Typically 1+ years of internship, academic research, or professional experience developing software for autonomous systems, robotics, or aerospace vehicles.
• Strong foundational programming skills in C++ and Python within a Linux-based development environment.
• Basic understanding of finite state machines, object-oriented software design, or event-driven programming architectures.
• Familiarity with standard software development tools such as Git, build systems, and debuggers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Basic understanding of real-time operating systems (RTOS), embedded systems, or hardware-software interfaces.
• Familiarity with spacecraft, launch vehicle, or UAV flight phases and operations.
• Demonstrated technical execution through collegiate engineering teams (such as Formula SAE, rocket clubs, or robotics design groups).
• Prior internship experience in a fast-paced aerospace or robotics startup environment.

Our office headquarters is located in Playa Vista, CA. This position requires in office presence.

_{The California annual base salary for this role is currently $71,000 - $124,000. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.}